MANILA — The Philippine government confirmed Monday that all Filipino sailors aboard two commercial vessels struck by Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz last week are unharmed, as tensions between the United States and Iran continued to escalate following fresh military exchanges in the volatile Gulf region.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac had briefed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the condition of 21 Filipino crew members aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel MV Ever Lovely and 19 Filipino sailors on the Panama-flagged oil tanker MT Kiku.
“Authorities continue to closely monitor the condition of the vessel and its crew,” Castro told reporters at a Palace press briefing.
The MV Ever Lovely was struck by an Iranian one-way attack drone on June 25 while transiting the strategic waterway. The attack prompted U.S. retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian military targets. A second drone hit the MT Kiku two days later, triggering another round of American strikes against Iranian military facilities near the strait. Both Washington and Tehran have accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month.
Castro said the MV Ever Lovely remained seaworthy and continued its voyage, with the vessel expected to arrive in Singapore on July 5.
The incidents have heightened alarm in Manila over the safety of thousands of Filipino seafarers working aboard vessels in the region. According to the DMW report cited by Castro, approximately 2,100 Filipino sailors aboard 85 vessels have already transited out of the Strait of Hormuz amid the worsening security situation. Around 3,800 Filipino seafarers remain aboard ships still operating in the Persian Gulf.
“Authorities continue to closely monitor their situation,” Castro said.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint between Oman and Iran, is one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors and serves as a key passageway for a significant share of global oil shipments and international commercial shipping.
The Philippines is one of the world’s largest suppliers of maritime labor, with hundreds of thousands of Filipinos working as seafarers on vessels across the globe.
